Chrome 8 is the first browser to feature a Web Store. Google plans to activate the feature before the end of the year, according to past reports.

Chrome 8 looks like a sweet package

The
browsing field is looking increasingly competitive these
days. Firefox
4 will soon be released and comes packing a fresh new look,
new features, and a speed bump. Likewise Opera
11 is shaping up to be an impressive package as well, adding
extensions for the first time, and continuing to lead Firefox in
speed. And Internet
Explorer 9 from Microsoft could soon mean that Windows users
can finally stick with the default browser and get acceptable speed
and standards compliance (something not
so true for past IE versions).

But Chrome 8 looks to
offer a well thought out package that may be the cream of the crop
for this loaded generation of browser wars. Chrome has always vied
with Opera for the title of fastest browser. Now both browsers
have extensions, as well.

Among the cool
upcoming apps to be featured in the store are Plants. vs.
Zombies and Lego Star Wars. For the non-gamers there's also a
Sports Illustrated app, a $4.99 image editing app dubbed
"Dark Room" (think online Photoshop Elements).

The
concept is very ambitious. While it remains to be seen how
successful these apps really are in action, it arguably is reason
enough to give Chrome 8 a try. The store itself will launch
before the year's end, according to Google and now is supported on
the software side.

Also new in Chrome 8 are over 800 bug fixes
and a built-in PDF reader.

The current version of
Chrome 8 is Version 8.0.552.215. You can download it
from here.

"So if you want to save the planet, feel free to drive your Hummer. Just avoid the drive thru line at McDonalds." -- Michael Asher